Preview - Critérium du Dauphiné 2022 stage 3

The third stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné will give way to a different type of rider to succeed. As the race goes deep into the Massif Central, the GC riders will have to be paying attention as they may be fighting for a stage win. However the day overall isn’t quite hard and most riders should be able to get into the base of the final ascent quite comfortably.

In the final half of the stage the riders slowly climb up to a plateau of over 1000 meters in altitude, however with no specific point where the race can blow up. It will all be played out in the final ascent.

Stage 3: Saint-Paulien - Chatreix - Sancy, 169Km

Not an unfamiliar name to some, the Sancy ski station hosts the finale of the day. In total, 6.1 kilometers at 5.5% average gradient – far from a mountain. It’s a day where puncheurs can also succeed, however attacks can come. The first five kilometers are harder than the average gradient suggests, however there are some small resting sections in the ascent. Namely, it’s final kilometer has a short descent and big-ring gradients into the finish line.

Sancy: 6.1Km; 5.5% average gradient; 11% maximum gradient 

CyclingUpToDate prediction:

**** Primoz Roglic

*** Wout van Aert, Ethan Hayter

** Dylan Teuns, Tobias Johannessen, Brandon McNulty

* Andrea Bagioli, Samuele Battistella, Juan Ayuso, David Gaudu